MARCH 6, 2025 | FEATURES | By Tessa Frantz (Co Editor-In-Chief)
If you go to Colorado College, you know there is no shortage of creative students. On any given day you may walk on the quad and encounter a bake sale or a pop-up from a student trying to sell homemade material goods. You may walk past a student band jamming on a front porch, sounding ethereal. You may pass by Hybl and see an event put on by a club on campus, filled with food and lively conversation.
However, an aspect of Colorado College that is not so talked about is student entrepreneurship. Students across all years start their own ventures for many reasons, like wanting to express their creativity, making extra money or helping others. These student entrepreneurs help knit the CC community closer.
Hyungyu Kim ‘27 is the creator of withus.studios, an online e-commerce platform selling sweatshirts. But beyond selling clothes, the brand serves as a platform for philanthropy.
When Kim first immigrated to the United States, his family experienced significant financial and medical challenges. But members of his community reached out and helped them overcome adversity.
“That instilled in me from an early age that when I grow older, I want to do some sort of charity or something [where] I can give back,” he said.
Between high school and college, Kim took a gap year and launched withus.studios. After making t-shirts for a church summer program, he realized he could bring his passions for graphic design and philanthropy together.
“During that gap year, I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do, and I was going to just try anything,” Kim said.
When he began communicating with an acquaintance who was suffering from quadriplegia, he realized he could focus on helping one person at a time. “[We’re] spotlighting and platforming the people we’re dropping clothes for.”
Kim emphasises how important community is for him and the role it plays in his venture. “The name ‘with us’ essentially stems from my faith in God, and just how, through other people and leaders in the community, he showed that though [there are] difficult circumstances, it’s God and other people around me that are supporting me.”
Whether it’s religious or not, Kim contends that he wants to foster community wherever he goes. Additionally, he mentions that starting his own brand has inspired him to take bigger risks and expand his imagination. “I’ve become more of a dreamer,” he said.
Another CC student took a gap year to focus on her passions. Anna Glasser ‘27 spent four months learning how to do nails at nail tech school. Now, she runs her own business out of her South dorm room, doing manicures for fellow students.
Glasser explains that she’s flexible with clients’ needs and can meet expectations: “People just come with whatever they want,” she said. “I can do extensions, natural nails; I’ve pretty much seen it all.”
Though it’s sometimes hard to find time amidst classes and extracurriculars, Glasser loves to see different peers come in and express themselves in their varying, individual ways.
She contends that one of the most important lessons she’s gathered from her nail business is practice. “I’ve learned the value of practice and just how much practice can make you better,” she said. Additionally, Glasser mentions the value in having such a social venture. “The people skills that come with being in close contact with people is so important,” she said.
She mentions that students at Colorado College don’t seem to have trouble expressing themselves creatively and making their art into a business. “People are pretty crafty about getting into their niche around here,” she said.
Similarly, Ashanty Garcia ‘27 does nails out of her bedroom, along with a slew of other ventures like crochet, jewelry making, accessories, alterations and tailoring. Her brand, madebyashanty offers a myriad of creative services for profit. Like Glasser, Garcia mentions the people skills needed for nail artists. “Nails are very personal. I’m holding a person’s hand for two hours,” she said.
Garcia also explains how much her work relies on interpersonal relationships with her peers. “The way I do things with all of my different skills relies on knowing people,” she said. Spreading awareness about her brand is heavily intertwined with being a social member on CC’s campus.
Garcia grew up surrounded by creativity and vibrance. Her mother worked as a balloon artist growing up, and she now works as a party planner. Garcia emphasizes that seeing her mother solve problems and work with others had an impact on her at a young age. “She has such a brain and an eye for aesthetics.”
Like her mother, Garcia is naturally creative. She started sewing when she was 14 and continues to make all kinds of garments today. “I think I just have a dexterity in my hands and it kind of works out,” she said.
Much of the time, art doesn’t feel like work for Garcia, but rather a break from difficult classes for her biochemistry major. Being creative is her main focus, but making money makes her hobby a little sweeter.
Garcia feels joy and pride from seeing her art around campus. “Especially when I see someone wearing my stuff, it just feels real. I took something and now somebody else is enjoying it.” Through other events like the fashion show, she is able to see her art in action.
While Garcia won’t take as active a role in the fashion show this year, she will help with administrative tasks alongside another entrepreneur, Nathalie San Fratello. San Fratello ‘25, has been making and selling her clothing online since high school. Her business, 2ndnatsanfrat, specializes in one of a kind pieces and upcycling.
San Fratello started her business as a way to have fun and build community. “My interest in clothing has definitely evolved into a kind of a passion for community organizing and making art spaces more accessible for people.” In line with this, San Fratello will be helping with administration and set design for the fashion show.
Like Garcia, San Fratello started sewing as a teenager. During COVID-19, making clothes became an excuse to meet up with friends and family. “It became a way to connect with people and to meet up and trade with other artists,” she said.
Now, San Fratello plans to continue her artistry and venture after she graduates from CC. Along with that, she emphasizes that creating and sharing art is at the center of her priorities. “I really just care about connecting with people and valuing community instead of placing money over that.”
Though starting a business may seem like a solitary activity, many entrepreneurs keep community at the heart of their ventures. Entrepreneurship can help us share our creativity and build new relationships.